Lake County's Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee on Aug. 6 recommended that the County Board approve a memorandum of understanding among Lake County and the villages of Wadsworth and Old Mill Creek that would allow a single, approximately 15‑acre Wadsworth property at the northeastern edge of the 2006 Gateway District to proceed through the village entitlement process while the three jurisdictions negotiate a successor to the Gateway Agreement, which expires in 2026.

Staff described the history: the 2006 intergovernmental Gateway Agreement among the county and the two villages created coordinated land‑use, aesthetic and infrastructure controls for an roughly 800‑acre gateway district around Route 173 and Interstate 94. "Because of the strategic location of this intersection ... the three units of local government ... got together to talk about how to ensure that future development ... was properly planned in terms of aesthetics, land use controls, and infrastructure," Eric Wagner, director of Planning, Building and Development, said.

Staff said the Gateway District has seen little development in the 19 years since the agreement because public sewer service is not available—the county's sewer interceptor lies roughly 1.5 miles west of the district—and extending sewer service would require construction costs of "several million dollars," a prohibitive expense for developers. A private property owner has purchased a roughly 15‑acre parcel in the village of Wadsworth that is partially outside the district's retail designation and is pursuing a truck‑sales use that staff said could be a reasonable fit given adjacent commercial uses along Old U.S. 41. Because the parcel sits at the district edge and lacks sewer availability, the three parties' attorneys advised using a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to waive certain strict requirements of the 2006 agreement for this parcel only while the parties negotiate a replacement agreement.

"This particular property is on the very edge of the Gateway District's boundaries ... so the development right now, because of both the land use designation for the property and the lack of availability of sewer and water, the development cannot proceed to fruition," Wagner said. Staff said approval of the MOU by all three governing bodies and execution by chief administrative officials would allow the Village of Wadsworth to continue rezoning, public hearings and regulatory review under its jurisdiction, including review of on‑site sanitation and a private well if necessary.

Committee members said the item is intended to be a pragmatic step to avoid putting the property owner's project on hold while the three governments negotiate a long‑term renewal. Member Peterson, who has participated in intergovernmental discussions, urged committee support, saying the villages need development opportunities. Members asked whether renewing the Gateway Agreement would include revisiting the district's land‑use designations; staff said a renewed agreement would likely rewrite designations and that financial incentives (special taxing districts, state grants, etc.) would probably be necessary to overcome the sewer cost barrier if large‑scale development is to occur.

Action taken: Motion by Member Kanishnick, second by Member Campos to recommend the County Board approve the MOU allowing the Village of Wadsworth to proceed with review of the identified parcel while the three parties negotiate a replacement gateway agreement. The committee voted in favor.

Ending — Staff said the MOU is a temporary, parcel‑specific instrument advised by counsel and that the broader Gateway Agreement will be revisited over the next year with committee updates; any development approvals remain subject to the Village of Wadsworth's public hearing and entitlement process.